Campanula plant named &#39;pkmp08&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKMP 08’,  characterized by having compact, upright plant habit; dense and bushy plant form mainly due to more upright stems; vigorous growth habit and less need for chemical growth retardation; greater number of flowers per plant, large upright violet flowers, darker violet petals and flower buds, and no need for vernalization.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Campanula portenschlagiana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PKMP08’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant, botanically known as Campanula portenschlagiana Schult., commonly known as Dalmatian Bellflower, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKMP08’.

The new Campanula, ‘PKMP08’, is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald MADSEN, in Søhus, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Campanula variety with uniform and compact plant form and deep purple flowers.

The new Campanula cultivar originated from a planned breeding program. The new Campanula originated from a cross made by the inventor in June 2007 between Campanula portenschlagiana 08.03 as the female parent and Campanula portenschlagiana 08.05 as the male parent. The inventor selected the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ in August 2008 on the basis of its compact and freely flowering habit, and dark purple flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ by terminal cuttings since August of 2008 in Søhus, Denmark, has shown that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PKMP08’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PKMP08’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright plant habit;

2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems;

3. Vigorous growth habit, and less need for chemical growth retardation;

4. Deeper purple flower and bud color; and

5. No need for vernalization.

Side-by-side comparisons between the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ and Campanula ‘PKMP05’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,188), were conducted by the inventor in Stige, Denmark. Plants of ‘PKMP08’ differ from the plants of ‘PKMP05’, in the unique characteristic of having darker violet flower buds and darker violet petals.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘PKMP08’ is the cultivar, Campanula ‘PKMP05’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,188), as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar ‘PKMP08’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describe the actual colors of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMP08’ as grown in a 11 cm pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical young flower bud of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical flower buds of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 4 shows a typical flower from ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of a typical young leaf of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of a typical mature leaf of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 7 shows a side perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMP08’(on left) and ‘PKMP05’ on right.

FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of a typical mature bud of ‘PKMP08’ (on left) and ‘PKMP05’ (on right).

FIG. 9 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘PKMP08’ (on left) and ‘PKMP05’ (on right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ as grown in a heated and lighted, glass-covered greenhouse in Søhus, Denmark, under conditions which are generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘PKMP08’ are grown in a glass-covered greenhouse where day temperatures in the greenhouse range from 18-22° C. and the average night temperature is 16° C. Light levels used while growing plants of ‘PKMP08’ are 100 Wm². Plants of ‘PKMP08’ are grown with 16 to 18 hour long day photoperiodic treatments; 10 hour short day photoperiodic treatments for propagation and seedlings. No growth retardants were used when growing plants of the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’.

The age of the ‘PKMP08’ plants described is 14 weeks old after cutting, as grown in 10.5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the winter season when day temperatures in the glass-covered greenhouse ranged from 18-22° C. and when the night average temperature in the glass-covered greenhouse was 16° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 4th edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Campanula portenschlagiana Schult. -   Parentage: Male parent — Campanula portenschlagiana Schult. 08.05     Female parent — Campanula portenschlagiana Schult 08.03 -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21° C.             in tunnels in a greenhouse.         -   Root description.—Fine, well branched. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Perennial, herbaceous, rosette plant with upright             plant habit and overall globular shape. Campanulate flowers             in racemes. Freely branching with lateral branches forming             at every node; dense and bushy.         -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 14 weeks are required to             produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Size.—Height (soil level to top of plant plane): About             16-17-cm. Spread (width): About 30-32 cm.         -   Stem.—Shape: Round Strength: Stiff Color: RHS 144A,             yellow-green.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About 100 per plant. Length             (including flowers): About 10 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to             2 mm. Aspect: Center of plant: ascending; Perimeter of             plant: spreading to drooping Texture: No hair and white             lactate Color: RHS 144A, yellow-green Basal branching: Yes,             when flowering. Internode Length: About 25 mm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—About 5.         -   Arrangement.—Single, alternate.         -   Length.—Basal: About 15 mm to 17 mm; Apical: About 8 mm to             12 mm.         -   Width.—Basal: About 20 mm to 24 mm; Apical: About 7 mm to 13             mm.         -   Shape.—Cordate, dentate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Broadly dentate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, dull.         -   Color.—Upper surfaces (young and mature foliage) RHS N137A,             green; Under surfaces (young and mature foliage): RHS 137A,             green.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color: (Upper and under             surfaces) RHS N137A, green.         -   Petiole.—Length: Basal: About 4 cm to 6 cm; Apical: Up to             1 cm. Diameter: 1-2 mm Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: RHS             N137A, green. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single, upright flowers in             racemes; acropetal, campanulate flowers with small star             shaped calyx.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring             and summer. Season can be extended by long day treatments,             no vernalization needed.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 5-9 days; however,             longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on             temperature and light conditions. Flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 7             cm.         -   Quantity of flower buds and flowers per plant.—About 1500.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—About 4-9.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—About 4-9.         -   Flowers.—Depth: About 15-20 mm. Diameter: About 20-25 mm.             Shape: Campanulate. Aspect: Upward to outward. Corolla             color: RHS N87A, violet, upper and under surface; and the             bottom of the bell has this same violet color.         -   Buds.—Length: Up to 12 mm. Diameter: Up to 4 mm. Shape:             Oblong, ridged. Color: RHS 144D, yellow-green to N88A,             violet.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single, sympetalous. Quantity per             flower: 5. Overall shape: Bell-shaped, campanulate Apex:             Acute. Base: Fused. Length: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Width:             About 7 mm. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color (when             opening): Upper surface: RHS N87A, violet. Under surface RHS             N87A, violet. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: RHS             N87A, violet. Under surface RHS N87A, violet. Fading: N89A,             violet-blue.         -   Sepals.—.         -   Arrangement.—Free.         -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Overall shape.—Arrow-shaped.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Length.—About 4 mm.         -   Width.—About 1 mm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Shiny, glabrous.         -   Color.—(immature — both surfaces): RHS 138A, green.         -   Color.—(mature — both surfaces): RHS 138A, green.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About             10-15 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 144A,             yellow-green. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—         -   Stamen.—Quantity per flower: 5; fused until pollen has been             shed.         -   Anther.—Shape: Fused, after shedding curling. Length: About             1 mm. Color: RHS 4C, yellow.         -   Pollen.—None.         -   Gynoecium.—.         -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: About 12 mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Tripartite. Color: RHS N88A, violet.         -   Style.—Length: About 11 mm. Color: RHS N88A violet.         -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 1C yellow-green. -   Seeds: None observed. -   Fruit: None observed. -   Growth retardants: No growth retardants were used in the breeding     program. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Campanula have exhibited good     tolerance to drought, rain and wind, with low temperature resistance     to −15° C. or −20° C. -   Disease/pest resistance: None observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘PKMP08’, as illustrated and described herein. 